Have you heard about the new changes coming in the state of Michigan for surrogacy? Michigan is one of the last states in the United States set to legalize surrogacy. Historically surrogacy contracts performed in the state of Michigan were unenforceable and surrogacy agreements for compensation were illegal. On April 1, 2024, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed the Assisted Reproduction and Surrogacy Parentage Act (“Surrogacy Act”). Scheduled to go into effect in March 2025, this new legislation allows intended parents in Michigan to have parental rights and protections within surrogacy agreements that they’ve never had before.
What does the Surrogacy Act mean for surrogacy in the state of Michigan?
The Surrogacy Act repeals the criminal and civil bans on surrogacy and establishes laws to regulate the process and protect all involved parties.
Agreements that comply with the Surrogacy Act, (with or without compensation) will be permitted and enforceable.
The Surrogacy Act allows for the use of assisted reproduction, including surrogacy to provide for a child conceived, gestated and born through the use of assisted reproduction, including surrogacy.
What does the new Michigan change mean for Intended Parents?
The new legislation ensures a secure legal relationship between parents and children conceived through assisted reproduction, including in vitro fertilization.
The new law recognizes the intended parents as the legal parents of the child born through surrogacy.
What does the Michigan Surrogacy Act mean for surrogates?
Under the Act, there are certain safeguards specific to the surrogate, including:
The surrogate’s legal counsel must be paid for by the intended parents.
The agreement must permit the surrogate to choose her health care practitioner.
The agreement must permit the surrogate to make all health and welfare decisions regarding the surrogate and the pregnancy, such as whether to consent to a cesarean section or multiple embryo transfer.
The surrogate may be compensated under the agreement.
Alcea Surrogacy is excited for the future of surrogacy in the state of Michigan and looking forward to helping intended parents create and expand their families. For more information about starting a surrogacy journey or becoming a surrogate visit alceasurrogacy.com. Do you currently live in the state of Michigan and interested in becoming a surrogate? Visit https://alceasurrogacy.com/surrogates/ to see if you qualify to become a surrogate.